Paint roller case

ABSTRACT

The present invention involves a molded plastic housing with an integral plastic hinge that opens to receive a wet paint roller cover and roller handle assembly. The present invention provides a hole to allow the paint roller handle shaft to protrude out of the housing. The present invention provides a relatively airtight housing by means of molded overlapping ridges.

I FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus for storing a paint roller cover and handle assembly to keep the paint fresh and thus avoid cleaning the roller cover between painting sessions.

II BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The most common method of painting objects such as the walls and ceilings of a house or other structure is by using a paint roller. Roller covers must be cleaned after each use because dried paint would render a roller cover useless. If the roller will be used again in a fairly short amount of time, a method of storing the paint-filled roller would free the user from the time-consuming and messy process of cleaning it between uses.

[0003] The present invention provides a simple, inexpensive, and compact means of storing a paint-filled roller whereby the paint will remain fresh and uncured. Prior attempts have been made to achieve this objective. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,853 discloses a roller cover storing method. This invention uses a closeable tube to store the roller cover only. Since the roller cover must be removed from the roller, this invention also includes a metal tool with semicircular cutouts for removing the cover. Anyone skilled in the art will recognize that this operation can be messy. Furthermore, the separate tool adds to the expense and complexity of the invention, not to mention providing a separate piece which may become lost.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,926, U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,164, and U.S. Pat. 4,651,379 all disclose a roller tray with cover. This invention is intended to store the used paint roller, a used brush, and a quantity of paint. To achieve all this it must necessarily be large, relatively expensive, and more difficult to manufacture than the present invention.

III SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a means to store a used paint roller between painting sessions without the need to clean the roller.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to store the paint roller cover and handle assembly without having to separate them.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to keep paint on the wet paint roller cover from drying during a period of non-use.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to be inexpensive.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to be simple to use and clean.

[0010] Other objects will be apparent from the following Descriptions and Drawings.

B. SUMMARY

[0011] The present invention involves a molded plastic housing with an integral plastic hinge that opens to receive a wet paint roller cover and roller handle assembly. The present invention provides a hole to allow the paint roller handle shaft to protrude out of the housing. The present invention provides a relatively airtight housing by means of molded overlapping ridges.

IV. THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of all elements of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a front view of the present invention in the closed position.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention in the opened position.

[0015]FIG. 4 is an end view of the present invention in the closed position.

[0016]FIG. 5 is an end view of the present invention in the opened position.

V. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] In accordance with the present invention, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the paint roller case 10, and paint roller assembly 100.

[0018] Paint roller assembly 100 comprises roller handle 120, roller shaft 130, roller 140 and roller cover 110. Roller cover 110 is shown inside case bottom 30. Roller shaft 130 protrudes through a hole 64 in case bottom 30. Hole 65 in case top 20 corresponds to the hole 64 in case bottom 30, providing clearance for roller shaft 130.

[0019]FIG. 2 shows paint roller case 10 in the closed position. Case bottom 30 is slightly overlapped at 80 by case top 20. This provides for a substantially airtight condition. Case top 20 and case bottom 30 are maintained in the closed position by friction interaction between top latch 40 and bottom latch 50.

[0020]FIG. 3 shows paint roller case 10 in the opened position. Case top 20 is slightly longer than case bottom 30, creating overlap 80. This provides the substantially airtight condition. Plastic hinge 60 is integrally molded into paint roller case 10, and keeps case top 20 and case bottom 30 together.

[0021]FIG. 4 shows an end view of paint roller case 10 in the closed position. Hole 65 in case top end 25 and hole 64 case bottom end 35 are clearly shown. Note that top latch 40 and bottom latch 50 are in a coplanar position when paint roller case 10 is closed.

[0022]FIG. 5 shows an end view of paint roller case 10 in the opened position. Ridges 70 overlap when case top 20 and case bottom 30 are closed and latched together by means of top latch 40 and bottom latch 50.

[0023] In use, a paint loaded paint roller 140 and cover 110 are placed in case bottom 30. Case top 20 hinges closed by means of plastic hinge 60. Top latch 40 makes contact with bottom latch 50. They are held together by friction, preventing the accidental opening of paint roller case 10. Ridges 70 provide a relatively airtight seal. 

VII. What is claimed is:
 1. A paint roller case comprising: a top, a bottom, at least one hinge, at least two latches, a top opening in said top; a bottom opening in said bottom; said top opening and said bottom opening being aligned in closed position.
 2. A paint roller case according to claim 1 wherein said top, conforms to the shape of a standard paint roller cover.
 3. A paint roller case according to claim 2 wherein said bottom conforms to the shape of a standard paint roller cover.
 4. A paint roller case according to claim 1 wherein said hinge which is an integral part of the said top and said bottom.
 5. A paint roller case according to claim 4 wherein said hinge has sufficient flexibility to allow said top and said bottom to open and close.
 6. A paint roller case according to claim 5 wherein said hinge is sufficiently sturdy to keep said top and said bottom together.
 7. A paint roller case according to claim 1 including at least latches which maintain said case in the closed position.
 8. A paint roller case according to claim 7 wherein said latches form an interference fit with respect to each other to maintain closure.
 9. A paint roller case according to claim 7 wherein said latches may be used to pry open the said top and said bottom.
 10. A paint roller case according to claim 1 wherein said top opening and said bottom opening permit the shaft portion of a standard paint roller to protrude through said top and bottom.
 11. A paint roller case according to claim 6 wherein said top is made of a molded translucent plastic material.
 12. A paint roller case according to claim 11 wherein said bottom is made of molded translucent plastic material. 